Flooring-clamp



(No Model.)

P.YJ.ABBOTT.

FLOORING CLAMP;

No. 317,959. Patented May 19, 1885'.

Inventor. Pami z Ju /aw, z 7622 mat NITED Srarns ATENT FFKCE-Q PASOHAL JOB ABBOTT, OF DEXTER, MAINE.

FLOORING-CLAMP.

'. .FJPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,959, dated May 19,1885.

Application filed January 8, 1885 (No model.)

Figure l is a top View, Fig. 2 a side elevation, Fig. 3 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 a transverse section, of a floor-clamp embodying my invention, the nature of which is defined in the claims hereinafter presented.

The machine is specially intended to be used in setting up to place in succession the upper boards of a floor of a building, though it may be sometimes otherwise employed to advantage.

v In the drawings, the base A of the machine is represented as not only provided with two posts or standards, a a, extending upward from it at its middle parallel and at a suitable distance apart, but as having a series of notches, b,in it at each of its opposite longer edges, such ranges of notches being to receive, as shown, two ears, 0 c, projecting upward from a bearer, B, extending crosswise underneath the base and downward therefrom, as shown. The base is recessed or slotted lengthwise of it from one end of it, to receive and allow to slide longitudinally in it a toothed rack, (J, jointed at its outer end to a bearer, D, at the middle thereof, such bearer being grooved from end to end along its outer edge, the groove being shown at d. A toothed sector, D, suitably fixed to the inner end of a handle, d, is arranged between and pivoted to the two posts. The toothed sector engages with a Qtoothed are, e, projecting, as shown, from a toggle, E, that is hinged or pivoted to the base. There is jointed to the said toggle an impelling-pawl, G, that extends within a furcated retaining-pawl, H, having its prong hinged to the base A, and arranged as represented. Both pawls engage with the toothed rack. The front end of the impelling-pawl is inclined, as shown at f, to bear against a corresponding inclination, g, in the retainingpawl. In this way the impelling-pawl not only extends within but somewhat under the retaining-pawl, or is adapted thereto so as to be capable of prying it upward. Below the is a fulcrum or upward projection, t, upon which the said pawl rests when in ahorizontal position. On the handle being turned down sufficiently the impelling-pawl at its rear part will be forced down upon the fulcra, in order to cause the pawl at its front end to rise out of engagement with rack and at the same time pry the retaining-pawl upward and out of engagement with the rack in order for such rack, with its grooved bearer,to be forced backward relatively to the base. On moving the handle upward the toggle will be depressed by the toothed sector and are, and will force downward and forward the impelling-pawl, which, acting against one of the teeth of the rack,will advance the rack relatively to the base, from which at its rear end there project downward teeth 1 to enter the lower boards of afloor and retain the clamp in position, while it may be in action, in setting up a floor-board,in which case the grooved bearer-will be against the tongued edge of such board. During each downward movement of the handle the impelling-pawl will be drawn backward on the rack and will be advanced to impel forward the rack during each upward movement of the handle. Having set up the board and nailed it down, the carpenter is to raise the clamp, so as to draw its teeth out of the floor and its grooved bearer away from the floorboard Having done this, he is to depress the handle sufficiently to cause the pawls to be thrown out of gear with the rack. Gontinuing to press down the handle and to pull it backward so as to elevate the base to a suitable angle with the fioor, the weight of the rack and its grooved head or bearer will cause the rack to fall backward within the base to a position for next being used. The bearer B, adjustable on and relatively to the base A in a manner to enable such bearer to be set to different distances from either end of the base, is to admit of the clamp-being used near a wall after having set floor-boards too near such wall for the clamp to be introduced be tween it and the board next it. In this case, when another board is to be set up, the

grooved bearer D is to bear against the wall,

while the adjustable bearer is against the edge upward the base and the board will be moved ICO backward, so as to press the latter up to that next previously laid.

I claim 1. In the fioorelamp as described, the comblnation of the base A,provided with the posts or standards a a, the rack 0, having the grooved bearer D, and adapted to slide within such base lengthwise thereof, the toggle E, hinged to such base and having the toothed are e, the handle (1, provided with the toothed sector D,pivoted to the standards a a, the retaining-pawl H, hinged to the base A, and the impelling pawl G, jointed to the toggle and extending, as represented, within the impelllng-pawl, all being substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the base A, provided with the projection i, and with the posts or standards a a, the rack 0, having the grooved bearer D, and adapted to slide within such base lengthwise thereof, the toggle E, hinged at one end to the base and having at the other the toothed are e, the handle d,provided with the toothed sector D, pivoted to the standards a a, the retaining-pawl H, hinged to the base A, and the impelling-pawl G, jointed to the toggle E, and extending, as represented, within-the impelling-pawl.

3. The combination of the floor-clainp, substantially as described, having its base provided with notches arranged on each of its opposite edges, as set forth, with the auxiliary bearer B, extending across and under the said base, and having ears to enterthe said notches, all being substantially as represented.

PASOHAL JOB ABBOTT.

Witnesses:

0. P. SAWYER, Trros. H. B. PIERCE. 

